This week's check-in is at one of my favorite hotels in New England, the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

If the name Trapp is conjuring up scenes from The Sound of Music, there's a good reason for it: the Von Trapp family portrayed in the film came to the U.S. in the early 1940s, touring the country as the Von Trapp Family Singers and eventually settled in Stowe, where the mountain scenery reminded them of their native Austria (you can read all about the full family history here).

The current 96-room alpine lodge was built in 1980 and sits on 2,500 acres. For me, of the best part of the lodge are all the cozy great rooms throughout. We met up with friends on our last visit here, and our evenings were spent nestled around fireplaces chatting and sharing a bottle of wine in the various public spaces. The atmosphere is relaxed and homey,great for those traveling with kids, and they also provide L.L.Bean dog beds and blankets, treats and dog-friendly trail maps should you want to pack your pooch. Here's our dog, Harold, taking in the snow.

In the winter the lodge offers cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails. If you're up for a workout, take the trail to Slayton Pasture Cabin for lunch. The three-mile journey to this little cabin in the woods is largely uphill, but you're rewarded for your hard work at the top with hot soup, sandwiches and apple cider. No need to bring your own gear. Guests can rent the required equipment at the hotel's ski center a short walk from the main lobby. And, if you have little ones, the lodge also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides across their beautiful, snow-covered fields.

When you're ready to warm up back at the lodge, there's an indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub with views of the mountains. Or, head to the lounge for afternoon tea with freshly baked cookies. The Main Dining Room also serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My favorite thing on the menu? The schnitzel with noodles, naturally.